Kathleen Ruotolo
March 2024
Kathleen
Ruotolo
,
RN
MICU/SDU
Yale New Haven Hospital
New Haven
,
CT
United States
As a leader, however, the most impactful way of influencing excellence in patient care is by caring and supporting the team members to bring their best to the care environment each and every shift, and Kathy exemplifies what that truly means.
Role Model Compassionate Care:
As nurses do, Kathy spends her time at work caring for others. Ensuring excellent care for all patients on North Pavilion 9 and 10, as well as their families, is her priority. She may be found in any one of 56 patient rooms perhaps cleaning someone up, pushing meds during a code, comforting the spouse of a critically ill loved one, or reassuring a newer nurse that “you’ve got this” as she supports them clinically and emotionally during a challenging situation. As a leader, however, the most impactful way of influencing excellence in patient care is by caring and supporting the team members to bring their best to the care environment each and every shift, and Kathy exemplifies what that truly means.
Special Connection:
Kathy arrives at work and is “full speed ahead” for the entirety of her day. You will find her anywhere someone needs help or jumping into the charge nurse role when needed for any reason. If Kathy happens to be in her office, she may be calling a co-worker who is home sick to check in, see how they are doing, and whether they need anything. You might find her on the phone with patient relations, ensuring a left behind item of sentimental value to a family that lost a loved one be returned to them ASAP. She might be in her office filling out a sympathy card for a staff member that has lost a loved one, or a card congratulating someone on the birth of a baby. Kathy spearheads the practice of sending cards to staff in the unit for significant life events, and she maintains consistency largely due to her commitment to this practice. Staff members will often comment on how lovely it was to have received a card from the leadership group. The compassion Kathy consistently demonstrates to patients, families and to staff is heartfelt and appreciated by all who encounter it.
Significant Difference:
Kathy has a particular passion for promoting healthy skin in this vulnerable MICU/SDU patient population. She is a member of the hospital healthy skin committee and oversees the quarterly skin checks during “web prev” in the unit. She has recruited a dedicated group of staff, RNs and PCAs, to assist with this, and she works tirelessly to support the care of those at risk for pressure injury (PI). If there is a risk, or a wound, Kathy will be there to support appropriate interventions for prevention or healing. Kathy has deep knowledge related to skin health, and readily shares it with our staff to support their growth and development and enhance patient safety. She also has a little habit of preparing gift bags with a few lotions and soaps from Bath & Body Works for each staff member who helped with the “web prev,” which is just routine for Kathy.
As nurses do, Kathy spends her time at work caring for others. Ensuring excellent care for all patients on North Pavilion 9 and 10, as well as their families, is her priority. She may be found in any one of 56 patient rooms perhaps cleaning someone up, pushing meds during a code, comforting the spouse of a critically ill loved one, or reassuring a newer nurse that “you’ve got this” as she supports them clinically and emotionally during a challenging situation. As a leader, however, the most impactful way of influencing excellence in patient care is by caring and supporting the team members to bring their best to the care environment each and every shift, and Kathy exemplifies what that truly means.
Special Connection:
Kathy arrives at work and is “full speed ahead” for the entirety of her day. You will find her anywhere someone needs help or jumping into the charge nurse role when needed for any reason. If Kathy happens to be in her office, she may be calling a co-worker who is home sick to check in, see how they are doing, and whether they need anything. You might find her on the phone with patient relations, ensuring a left behind item of sentimental value to a family that lost a loved one be returned to them ASAP. She might be in her office filling out a sympathy card for a staff member that has lost a loved one, or a card congratulating someone on the birth of a baby. Kathy spearheads the practice of sending cards to staff in the unit for significant life events, and she maintains consistency largely due to her commitment to this practice. Staff members will often comment on how lovely it was to have received a card from the leadership group. The compassion Kathy consistently demonstrates to patients, families and to staff is heartfelt and appreciated by all who encounter it.
Significant Difference:
Kathy has a particular passion for promoting healthy skin in this vulnerable MICU/SDU patient population. She is a member of the hospital healthy skin committee and oversees the quarterly skin checks during “web prev” in the unit. She has recruited a dedicated group of staff, RNs and PCAs, to assist with this, and she works tirelessly to support the care of those at risk for pressure injury (PI). If there is a risk, or a wound, Kathy will be there to support appropriate interventions for prevention or healing. Kathy has deep knowledge related to skin health, and readily shares it with our staff to support their growth and development and enhance patient safety. She also has a little habit of preparing gift bags with a few lotions and soaps from Bath & Body Works for each staff member who helped with the “web prev,” which is just routine for Kathy.